Corrupt practices: Kuku reads riot act to security agencies, others …says no more business as usual

Corrupt practices: Kuku reads riot act to security agencies, others

…says no more business as usual

By Idris Alooma

Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku has disclosed that she received insane messages of complains daily from travelling passengers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos, from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo and the Presidency over the unwholesome attitudes of security operatives at the airport who constantly harass passengers with the intention to solicit gifts or favour from them.

The FAAN MD spoke during a security meeting with heads of security agencies at the airport in Lagos where she bemoaned activities of personnel in uniform affirming that investors are complaining and warned that such behaviours must stop else there will be dire consequences.

In a two minutes, nineteen second video made available online, Mrs. Kuku particularly called out the security arms of the agency, AVSEC and officers of the Nigerian Customs Service whom she said claimed they don’t receive pension and that such extortions are their own ways of getting their pension benefits.

FAAN however said the crucial meeting with the heads of all security agencies at MMIA was aimed at tackling the persistent problems of touting and harassment of passengers at screening points.

An electronic statement noted that “Mrs Kuku launched “Operation AirClean,” making it clear that she has the full backing of the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo.”

“She emphasised the urgency to clean up airport terminals and eliminate unpatriotic practices among officers. Her call to action for the leaders of security agencies was straightforward: it is no longer business as usual.”

In the viral video the FAAN MD said “Investors are complaining, the Lagos airport, that is the first place they see, you get off the plane, this is welcome to Nigeria, the numbers of messages that I receive from passengers, the Honourable Minister and from the Presidency is insane, especially from Lagos airport.”

“I want to focus on AVSEC; you represent an agency and an organisation. The way you engage, auntie wetin you bring come for us, auntie bye bye, auntie open your bags. I have also gotten feedbacks from AVSEC officers and customs, saying that they are not collecting pension, saying this is the way for them to generate or earn their pension. This has to stop.”

She continued “I have a very clear directive. It goes for the team lead, it goes for the HODs and it goes for the heads of the organisations at the airport. If your organisation is find wanting, then it means that you as a leader has failed and it means that I have failed, and this better stop.

She further disclosed that “I also hear that agencies are giving returns to their bosses, so let us have frank conversations here. The airport is no longer a place to come and make money, so if anybody in your organisation is asking you to bring returns, AVSEC, I am saying the same to you and all of the other agencies here, better tell them you don’t want to come here because the penalties are going to be stiff.”

The airport management agency added that the initiative was developed to improve collaboration among agencies and to streamline passenger search processes, ultimately enhancing the overall travel experience.

It also aims to eliminate extortion and harassment of passengers, as well as to completely eradicate touting activities at the airport, it said further.

Mrs. Kuku was said to have ordered the immediate dismantling of search tables at screening points and mandated that technology be leveraged to reduce manual searches and improve interactions with passengers adding that collaboration and intelligence sharing among agencies were also deemed essential for enhancing service delivery.

“The FAAN MD/CE announced that her administration would deploy mystery shoppers equipped with body cameras to assess the performance of officials at both arrival and departure security and screening areas.”

“The meeting was highly participatory, and representatives from various agencies proposed concrete solutions for improving services to enhance the passenger experience while eliminating touting and soliciting. The heads of the security agencies committed to heightened oversight of their officers, ensuring accountability on duty.

It was also resolved that secure and designated area will be provided as a waiting area for visitors while mobile courts will be set up for expedited prosecution of offenders.”

Mrs Kuku reaffirmed that FAAN directors would actively engage in monitoring efforts, and existing task forces were directed to intensify their activities. Any officer found guilty of misconduct must be reported to their agency head without delay.”

The meeting included representatives from the Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Immigration Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Quarantine Services, Nigerian Police Force, Directorate of Security Services, Nigerian Customs Services, and Aviation Security Services.”

“Mrs Olubunmi Kuku, driven by her unwavering commitment to enhancing passenger experiences at Nigerian airports, called for unified action to achieve this critical objective and zero tolerance for misconduct.” The electronic concluded.